The Pug is an easily distinguishable breed, with its black wrinkly mug and bright bug eyes. While they might look like cartoon characters, the Pug has a lot more than meets the eye. They were originally bred to be man’s best friend, a loyal lapdog to royal families. The Chinese were the first to perfect this breed and once trading began with Europe, the breed’s popularity sky-rocketed. Because they were bred to be companions, they lack a lot of skill in the athletic aspect. They much prefer a stationary lifestyle where they can be curled up on the couch with you. Despite this, they are still very playful and mischievous as puppies and this can be a struggle during training. They are very intelligent, but with that intelligence comes stubbornness and they will need a patient owner willing to work with them. Even though Pugs are a short-haired breed, they have a double coat which sheds quite often especially with changing seasons. Another thing to be wary of as a Pug owner is those wrinkles we love so dearly. They will need to be consistently cleaned to make sure they remain clean and to avoid infection. Those wrinkles and short snouts also come with some medical issues: yeast infections, allergies, and staph are just a few of the issues Pugs are susceptible to. These breeds also do not do well in hot climates due to the length of their snouts. As you can see, there are some challenges as a pug owner but none that outweigh a goofy companion that will always be by your side.